Neither from itself nor from another, nor from both, nor without a cause, does anything whatever, anywhere arise.

Every being has the potential of becoming a Buddha. Our true nature is Buddha nature.

When you listen to someone, you should give up all your preconceived ideas and your subjective opinions.

The deepest happiness comes from having an enduring sense of purpose, one that gives our lives meaning beyond the endless pursuit of pleasure and success.

Those who grasp at things as truly existent are like someone trying to catch the reflection of the moon in water.

Do not think you will necessarily be aware of your own enlightenment.

Your own treasure house contains everything you need; why search outside?

The way is basically perfect. It is not a matter of practice or enlightenment.

The Noble Eightfold Path is not a path of mere intellectual understanding but a path of practice, of inner transformation.

The object of meditation and the mind which knows it must be noted as they occur. If they are not noted, desire arises and disturbs concentration.

The menu is not the meal.

The victorious ones have said that emptiness is the relinquishing of all views. Those who are possessed of the view of emptiness are said to be incurable.

Life is like a cup of tea. It's all in how you make it.

Be a lamp unto yourself. Work out your liberation with diligence.

The practice of mindfulness is simply to bring awareness to what we are doing, what we are saying, and what we are thinking.

Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.

The heart is like a garden. It can grow compassion or fear, resentment or love. What seeds will you plant there?

Who would then deny that when I am sipping tea in my tearoom I am swallowing the whole universe with it and that this very moment of my lifting the bowl to my lips is eternity itself transcending time and space?

The one who grasps at existence suffers in samsara, while the one who grasps at non-existence will find no liberation.

Whatever we do, we should see ourselves. Reading books doesn't show us our defilements. Watch yourself. Watch your mind.

Peace requires us to surrender our illusions of control.

The mind is like water. When it's turbulent, it's difficult to see. When it's calm, everything becomes clear.

Life is nothing but a continuous chain of sensations. Pleasant or unpleasant, observe them objectively.

The way to change others' minds is with affection, and not anger.

The noting mind and the object noted appear to occur as a pair. Through concentration they are seen to arise and vanish together.

The silence between the notes is as important as the notes themselves.

Nothing can harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.

As long as you seek for something, you will get the shadow of reality and not reality itself.

The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.

The development of wisdom requires both study and practice, both learning and direct experience.

The Buddha's teachings are not a religion, but a science of mind.

Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It's about befriending who we are already.

There is no need to have a deep understanding of Zen. Even though you read much Zen literature, you must read each sentence with a fresh mind.